Denmark assumes chair of Arctic Council

Brussels – This morning (May 12),  Denmark took over the leadership of the Arctic Council. The forum brings together the countries bordering the northern polar circle, succeeding Norway, which led the body from 2023 to 2025. The new Danish mandate, which will last until 2027, promises to be particularly significant, given the complex geopolitical context across the Arctic region.

During the Norwegian presidency, the Council faced an unprecedented internal crisis due to the tensions arising from the war in Ukraine and the suspension of cooperation with Russia. Despite these difficulties, Norway managed to maintain the unity and functionality of the Council, focusing on limited goals such as climate change, protection of the marine environment, and the welfare of Arctic peoples.

Under the Danish leadership, the biggest challenge will be managing the sensitive political dynamics, particularly concerning Greenland, which has become a point of strategic interest after the statements of Donald Trump, who has not ruled out the possibility of gaining control of it militarily. Denmark will have to balance global geopolitical interests with the need to preserve stability and cooperation among Arctic Council members, not an easy task at a time of growing international rivalry.